Yorkshire golf: Nicola Slater is crowned English girls' champion after Hawkstone Park triumph

Nicola Slater, the new English Under-16 girls' champion.

HICKLETON GC'S Nicola Slater is the new English Under-16 girls' champion following an exciting one-shot victory at Hawkstone Park.

Sixteen-year-old Slater, a pupil at Penistone Grammar School, gave herself a commanding lead with a three-under-par 70, added a 73 and then closed with a 77.

The Sheffield Union girls' champion, who also won the White Horse Cup at Frilford Heath last year, currently plays off four.

She has played at Woodsome Hall and Hickleton having taken up the game when she was eight.

"Yesterday was such a relief after holding a five-shot lead as it's quite hard to sustain such a lead overnight," she said..

"I hadn't checked the scores all the way around and it was a definite shock when I found out I had won by a close one shot.

"I really enjoyed the last few days and it has given me confidence for future events and gives me a chance to aim higher now, and hopefully prove I can repeat such scores."